Cleveland men arrested for gun smuggling; 1 accused of murder-for-hire: FBI
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Two Cleveland men accused of trafficking firearms and smuggling them overseas have been arrested, FBI investigators say. One of the suspects is even charged in connection to an alleged murder-for-hire plot.
Federal agents with the FBI Cleveland Division arrested 66-year-old George Baynes, aka Issa Yusef, and 48-year-old Aaron Betts on Friday.
According to court documents, Baynes allegedly bought and sold new and stolen firearms in an attempt to smuggle them out of the country.
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Investigators say Baynes also recruited Betts to buy firearms at a gun show in the Cleveland area.
“Betts purchased and sold multiple firearms to Baynes, a known felon, and further understood the weapons were to be shipped overseas,” according to a FBI Cleveland complaint.
The complaint alleges that Baynes also gave “a cooperating witness” firearms and a gas mask to smuggle overseas and talked about smuggling parts to create pipe bombs.
Baynes also solicited the witness to murder someone he knows, the complaint alleges.
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Both Baynes and Betts face various weapons charges, including selling or disposing a firearm to a convicted felon, conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, firearms trafficking and firearms trafficking conspiracy.
Baynes faces additional charges related to attempted smuggling of goods from the United States and murder-for-hire.
They are being held in custody awaiting preliminary hearings.
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